The HBO fantasy drama ended its season with some stunning twists of fortune, several casualties and the long-awaited reveal about one bastard’s origins.

In “The Winds of Winter,” the longest episode in the show’s history, clocking in at about 72 minutes, Bran’s vision revealed that Jon Snow is not Ned Stark’s son. He is his nephew.

His mother was Ned’s beloved sister Lyanna, who begged Ned to protect the child.

The father? It is strongly implied that would be Rhaegar Targaryen, Daenarys’ brother.

The implications of this reveal, long suspected by fans of the books, are staggering.

With that kind of lineage, Jon could have a claim to the Iron Throne. It also might mean Jon has some dragon magic of his own in his blood, that the flying behemoths would heed his call. Imagine: Jon Snow, sword in hand, taking to the sky on the back of one of those majestic beasts.

And it just might be why the show keeps pushing the off-the-charts chemistry between Jon and Sansa – they could be meant for each other.

Sure, they grew up with each other, but so did Jaime and Cersei, and look how they turned out.

OK, completely horrible example, but you get my drift.

Ironically, the reveal undermines Jon’s claim to rule the North. With Lady Mormunt’s backing – that tween is fierce – the various houses recognize him as Ned's son and proclaim him king.

At King’s Landing, it was judgment day for Cersei and Loras Tyrell.

Cersei dressed for a party of one, in attire that was a cross between a gown and armor, Joan of Arc chic.

Loras, essentially on trial for being gay, confesses to his depravity and bends on knee to High Sparrow.

In his mercy, High Sparrow has him mutilated him with a carving on his forehead.

Meanwhile, the Mountain stops Tommen the Idiot in his quarters, preventing him from reaching the trial.

Qyburn has turned his network of adorable children into the most bloodthirsty assassins anywhere. Amazing what a few sweets can do to turn a child’s soul. Parents, take heed.

A wounded Lancel can only crawl in vain to the storehouse of wildfire underneath the temple, a candle burning down as a fuse.

Margaery, every bit as cunning as Cersei, is the only one to realize that Cersei’s absence means something horrible is going on. She starts a panic in the temple, but the Faith Militant block her, and everyone, from leaving.

And a great green explosion roars through the temple and blows it to bits, even sending the bell crashing down to crush hapless passers-by.

High Sparrow, Margaery, Loras and their father, and hundreds others are dead.

And in her high window perch, Cersei watches, sips her wine and smiles.

Oh, there is one survivor of the Faith Militant – the nun who brutalized her all those weeks, who forced her into that walk of shame.

She awakens to find herself strapped to a table somewhere deep in the Lannister dungeon.

Cersei taunts her. She had promised her she would kill her, but her death is not this day, no, she means for her to live a long time – with her new companion, the Mountain, who takes off his helmet, revealing his scars.

“Your gods have forsaken you. This is your god now,” Cersei says, closing and locking the door as the woman screams, as the Mountain advances.

“Shame. Shame,” Cersei repeats.

Oh, show, you were doing so great. You had to just throw in another rape, didn’t you?

There are more screams, so many more screams on the wind.

Tommen the Idiot watches his city burn. He knows he’s lost his queen – and a countless number of his subjects.

He takes off his crown and steps away and we have the view of King’s Landing from his room, the city annihilated.

And then Tommen returns to the window and jumps to his death.

Didn’t see that one coming.

Cersei’s quest for revenge has destroyed her last child.

She gains a throne, a somber counterpoint to Jon’s coronation by popular vote. Here, Cersei ascends because she’s pretty much the last one standing.

At Winterfell, Davos forces Jon’s hand in deciding Melisandre’s fate.

He confronts her about her role in the murder of young Shireen.

“We burned her at the stake,” Melisandre admits to them both.

She wants to help Jon win the war against the White Walkers.

Jon exiles her, but in doing so, has he cast off his most powerful ally?

Littlefinger shows his true face to Sansa, metaphorically. In what seems to be the most honest moment of his life, he confesses to Sansa he has a dream he can’t escape – to rule the Iron Throne, with her by his side.

She calls it a “pretty picture” and walks off.

At least, she tries to. He’s still trying to get her to doubt Jon.

At Dorne – hey, remember Dorne? – Lady Olenna rips into Ellariaand her misbegotten daughters because she’s bloody Dame Diana Rigg and what are you going to do about it?

They want an alliance with Olenna, but what does Olenna care of protection, of survival? Cersei stole her family, her future, from her.

They can give her her heart’s desire. And what is her heart’s desire?

“Fire and blood,” Varys says, stepping out of the shadows.

With Ellaria, her Sand Snakes, Varys and Olenna aligned against Cersei, she’s going to need a bigger Mountain. Probably several.

Someone else finding a reason to celebrate: Walder Frey, stuffing his face, and patting the butt of the new servant girl. If only his sons would show up.

But they are here, the girl tells him.

In his pie.

“They weren’t easy to carve,” she says, and she rips off her face, and it’s Arya, another one of the great thrills of the night.

“The last thing you are ever going to see is a Stark smiling down on you as you die,” she says.

And Arya lives up to her word, cutting his throat and holding him as the blood gushes out, looking down on him.

At last there is some small measure of justice for the Starks – her mother, her brother, her sister-in-law - who perished at the Red Wedding.

Also: Arya is seriously hardcore. Where did she learn to bake like that?

We end with Daenarys, Theon, Yara and Varys (Varys? Just how close is Dorne anyway?) on a ship, as a fleet sets out for Westeros.